I am a certified artist of Belly Binding and I offer Postpartum Sealing and a Wrapping Ceremony. In Western culture everyone knows how to take care of a pregnant woman’s physical needs, but hardly anyone thinks about mothering a new mother. This pampering can be extremely important for healing the body after birth and can eliminate postpartum depression. In Malaysia and China, experienced female healers are responsible for helping a new mother get back into her pre-pregnant state and shape. In ancient times worldwide, wrapping ceremonies were performed on a regular basis. With the present-day knowledge of the benefits of wrapping I advocate for the revival of this tradition.
Ultimately, the triage of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum state all depend on how the woman feels. Stress is known to extend labor, but on the other hand, a comforted and empowered mother will likely have a quick and satisfying experience.
The same logic applies to the postpartum period, and the bath and wrapping ceremony are the techniques that make a woman feel empowered and happy, blessed and beautiful.
Postpartum Care Includes:
- Bath and Closing Ceremony (Optional)
- Wrapping Ceremony
- Additional Wrapping the next day
Bath and Closing/Sealing
This soothing bath ceremony is performed with rose petals and slices of lime along with honey, almond milk, and sage. For 15 to 20 relaxing minutes we symbolically wash away the smell of blood and return the feminine fragrance and beauty.
The closing (or sealing) ceremony is a beautifully symbolic way to acknowledge the transformation of a woman into a mother and her return back to society. During birth a woman opens emotionally and physically to let her baby out. The shift of focus from the woman to the baby may leave a feeling of emptiness and loneliness. I will mother a new mother with gentle care, rubbing warm herb-infused oil into the belly. The procedure will improve blood circulation and metabolism, revitalize skin and remove toxins from the body. Warming and stimulating the lymphatic system will promote her body to release the retained water and fat, allowing the skin to gain its elasticity again.
We will put warm flaxseed packs with lavender buds across the body. Then the body is tucked in with 6 scarves, symbolically closing what has been opened praising her body for its hard work.
Wrapping (or Belly Binding) is a process in which a mother’s torso (from the middle portion of the hips up to her bosom) is tightly bound with a long piece of fabric. The fabric binding creates a beautiful corset, which supports the spine. A woman’s muscles and ligaments are loose and limp at this stage as a result of the release of relaxing hormones produced during birth; these muscles can be so loose that they can cause backaches. Just before binding, we apply a homemade belly firming paste, made of mixed spices with heating qualities. Depending on how many days or weeks after the delivery the procedure is performed, a mother’s skin may be flabby and the belly bloated with air, retaining water and fat. The paste and the binding will help the skin to tighten and will speed up the womb’s healing process. This will support the posture for breastfeeding and relieve any back pain. A mother can keep her corset for up to 14 hours. Sometime with the help of my assistant I will come to perform the binding the following day (included in the package). It is recommended to continue binding for as many days as possible until the mother’s body is back to its pre-baby state. This continued service is priced separately. Alternatively, several sessions to teach the mother’s partner or a friend to perform the procedure can be introduced.
Additional wrapping can be provided the day after birth.
The regular package includes two binding sessions – the initial session and the follow up. Each will take 30 minutes. This would also be a good time for your partner or a friend to learn the procedure if you so wish.
